Abstract
Characteristic of the modern situation is the lack of any distinction between the languages of belief and non-belief. Thus, over a wide area, a believer on the one hand may use symbols which are in no way recognisable as specifically Christian, and may do so even when he wishes to portray experiences of a profoundly religious character; as reader, he can also recognise such experiences in the symbolism of the non-believer. A non-believer, on the other hand, may use Christian symbols without enabling us to attribute to him any conversion to faith. How then is one to describe the difference between believing and expressing a belief one does not share? The essential difference should be seen as resting in the attitude towards the truth of the symbol or statement of belief. In addition, at least as far as the Christian faith is concerned, there is also a moral obligation which is a consequence of faith. Furthermore, there is the sense of communion with those who embrace the same faith.
Highlights
Of all the world's religions, I shall here only be dealing with Christianity; this is the religion I know something about
My account here is limited to questions of this type, that is the meaning of life, man's guilt, man's confrontation with death
An Essay" we find a number of reflections, including the following: "One day after I have been searching in vain for something in my books, these words suddenly come to me and they seem to me wonderful, and more than this: I a poor sinner—"
Summary
Of all the world's religions, I shall here only be dealing with Christianity; this is the religion I know something about. Let me begin by quoting an example from The Brothers Karamazov; the point in question might be called a religious concept rather than a symbol, but it can still serve to illustrate the tendency to which I refer. He lets the brothers agree, that is in the belief that one must "love life more than the meaning of it"1.
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